BACK-TO-BACK, HOME-AND-HOME GAMES The Carolina Hurricanes return from the NHL’s All-Star break to take on the Washington Capitals on Friday at the RBC Center (7 p.m., FSN South HD, Hurricanes Radio Network) in the first game of a back-to-back, home-and-home series between the clubs. The teams will travel to Washington following Friday’s game for a Saturday evening meeting at the Verizon Center (7 p.m., FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network). Carolina has earned points in six of its last seven games, going 4-1-2 against the New York Islanders, at Toronto, against Florida, against Atlanta, at Florida, against Washington and against Tampa Bay, with the lone regulation loss coming 5-2 against the Capitals on Jan. 18.

The Hurricanes’ are in the midst of seven straight games against Southeast Division opponents. Carolina currently posts a 12-4-2 record against Southeast Division foes after going 18-11-3 against the division in 2005-06.

The Hurricanes have gone 8-1-2 in their last nine games against division opponents, with the lone regulation loss being the 5-2 loss to Washington on Jan. 18. That loss also marked Carolina’s lone regulation loss to a divisional opponent at home this season.

At the 2007 All-Star Game, Eric Staal and Justin Williams each found the net in the Eastern Conference’s 12-9 loss to the Western Conference. It marked the first time in franchise history that two players from the Carolina franchise have earned a point in an All-Star Game. Williams also added an assist in the All-Star Game as he set up Staal’s goal.

The Hurricanes’ power play is 21-for-99 (21.2%) with left wing Cory Stillman in the lineup, and 26-for-187 (13.9%) without him.

This season, Carolina’s penalty kill has gone 198-for-229 (86.5%) in 46 games with Rod Brind’Amour in the lineup and went 17-for-27 (63.0%) in the four games Brind’Amour missed in December.

CAROLINA AT HOME: 13-8-3 CAROLINA ON THE ROAD: 12-11-3CAROLINA ON THE POWER PLAY: 47-of-286 (16.4%) CAROLINA SHORTHANDED: 216-of-257 (84.0%)

Friday marks the fifth of eight 2006-07 regular-season meetings between the Hurricanes and the Capitals, and the second of three meetings between the teams in a nine-day span. The teams will complete a back-to-back, home-and-home series against each other Saturday night at the Verizon Center.

Washington took the teams’ first meeting of the season on Oct. 7 at the Verizon Center by a 5-2 margin, and the Hurricanes returned the favor by taking the teams’ second game on Nov. 9 at the RBC Center by a 5-0 score. Carolina scored a 4-1 win in the teams’ meeting on Nov. 17 in Washington, but the Caps struck back with a 5-2 win at the RBC Center on Jan. 18. The Hurricanes posted a 5-3-0 record in eight contests against Washington in 2005-06, with Captain Rod Brind'Amour leading all scorers in the series with 11 points (6g, 5a). Dainius Zubrus (5g, 5a) and Alex Ovechkin (3g, 7a) led all Capitals scorers with 10 points each in last season's series. The Hurricanes post a 36-57-14-1 all-time record against the Capitals, including an 18-26-10-1 home record and a 18-31-4 road record.